Rodney Stafford, Tori's Dad, is biking out west to raise money for ChildFind, in honour of Tori's memory. You can track his daily progress through his online gps tracking camera, read his daily blog or post a message of support:

Does anyone know if there is a time line as to when Rodney is hoping to reach each of the cities on his route? I would love to great him in Edmonton.

Turbododger

08-11-2009, 02:17 PM

Does anyone know if there is a time line as to when Rodney is hoping to reach each of the cities on his route? I would love to great him in Edmonton.

No, CA, he doesn't even know himself.

Originally he aimed to be at the end in early September. But he posted on his blog the other day, that he was aiming too quick, and that was not the purpose of his journey. I am sure there will be lots of warning on his blog.

Keep checking here, I will be updating key events.

CentralAlberta

08-11-2009, 02:38 PM

I definitely will be checking. Thanks TD for all your work.:Banane09:

CarrieBean

08-11-2009, 03:39 PM

Snipped

Also some folks have asked what cities he plans to go through on the trip. Here they are. I hope people can come out and show their support.

Thanks, Turbododger! Been looking for this info for a couple of weeks. Rodney will be going through my city. I will try to be there.

sillybilly

08-11-2009, 04:54 PM

Rodney is making good progress today and is a bit south of North Bay, Ontario. Hopefully he'll find a big fat fluffy bed in "The Bay" tonite.

As per Rodney's page at Eye-zOn, for those wishing to donate to his ride in Tori's name, donations can be made as follows:

Visa, MasterCard or American Express, call 1-800-447-6047 (don't know if this is Canada only)

Or

A direct deposit into the Kilometers for Kids account at any branch of TD Canada Trust:

transit # 0227
account # 5210920.
Kilometers for Kids

Turbododger

08-12-2009, 09:38 AM

Rodney Stafford knows he can't bring his daughter, Victoria, back to life.
But with every kilometre he pedals on his Kilometres for Kids cross-country ride, the Woodstock man is keeping his little girl's memory alive, while helping to keep other youngsters safe.

"For me, to know that what I'm doing will help protect other children like Tori, that's enough for me," said Stafford, leaning on his bike in the parking lot of the downtown Barrie McDonalds, yesterday. "This was an idea my 11-year-old son and I had, to take a ride in (Tori's) memory and take as long as it took."

Although his son was unable to make the journey, Stafford, 33, strapped on his helmet and mounted his 27-speed bicycle to carry out the feat of biking more than 3,400 kilometres from Woodstock to Alberta in Tori's honour.

FOR TORI: Rodney Stafford (right) chats with Huntsville town councillor Fran Coleman (left) and resident Karen Schamehorn during a stop in Huntsville on Monday. Stafford is on a cross-country cycling tour in memory of his daughter Victoria, who was abducted from her school in Woodstock, Ontario in April and later found murdered. He is also raising funds and awareness through the trip for Child Find Canada.

Called Kilometres for Kids, he said the trip initially began as something for himself, his son and his girlfriend to do together as a way to say goodbye to his daughter.

“It was just a way to go out there and release balloons, say goodbye to Victoria. It wasn’t supposed to be anything big,” Stafford told this newspaper. “But then my son couldn’t get permission to come and my girlfriend felt she couldn’t make it so it ended up becoming myself so I figured, what the heck, I’m doing it anyways, I might as well do it for a purpose.”

Stafford then connected with Child Find and Eye-zOn, a GPS tracking company that allows anyone to follow his progress online, which will follow him as he makes his way from Woodstock to Edmonton, Alberta.

Never an avid cyclist, Stafford said the trip has been “a little rough here and there,” but the support he’s received in the communities along the way has gone a long way to encourage him.

“Every fifth car honks or waves and you have vehicles pulling over and taking pictures and clapping and cheering me on. It makes you feel really good,” he said.

http://www.huntsvilleforester.com/article/142887

Turbododger

08-12-2009, 11:54 AM

So we spent the day in Gravenhurst yesterday, and I ran into a great lady with a bunch of PR connections all over the area. We talked about what I’m doing, and she got in touch with Huntsville radio station Moose FM. That led to us meeting Fran Coleman, the Deputy Mayor of Huntsville, and she sat with us for a good portion of the afternoon. We raised over $1500 in this great little town, so I sure hope the cities along the way show the same amazing generosity as Huntsville. Next stop, North Bay, and we’re hoping for similar results.

I really want to acknowledge the kindness of the people I’m meeting every day. I feel it’s an honour to be able to bring Victoria’s story to folks this way, and get the feedback and support I’m getting.

We need to dig up some email contacts for media along Rodney's route, we can do an email campaign!

We should do up some sort of media release page up to send with the email. I wonder if Rodney already has one? I think I will post a message on his blog and see if he does.

CuriousJorge

08-13-2009, 03:30 AM

I watched the 11pm news tonight (last night) on the National news and TLM's lawyer said that she had so much information to go through that they have asked the date be put off until Oct. 1st. I don't remember her exact words but I know she did say "videos, pictures and other documents" being evidence. We know the obvious video of the abduction...hmm, wonder if there's more than one video. Here is a link but it does not specify those words she used in her statement to the press. Maybe I didn't search hard enough, but I'm disappointed that it seems all reports read the same. Hope reporters have not lost interest in this case.

Also when I was googling for this info, I came upon the FB site 'no plea bargain for TLM'. WOW over 23,000 members.

http://www.630ched.com/News/National/article.aspx?id=133644

CuriousJorge

08-13-2009, 03:39 AM

Okay, sleuthers, let's help Rodney get some publicity.

We need to dig up some email contacts for media along Rodney's route, we can do an email campaign!

We should do up some sort of media release page up to send with the email. I wonder if Rodney already has one? I think I will post a message on his blog and see if he does.

YAY Turbo! Great idea. I was on the site where you can track Rodney on his journey and sad to see that there is only $209.00 in donations. I realized that this amount is only based on donations that have come through to ChildFind, but still.:confused: He definately does need more media coverage. So sad. I have only seen his first day covered by the media. More awareness, more $, more pride for Rodney. Thanx Turbo, you're a Dear! :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::woohoo:I'd help you in this area but I'm totally stumped as to where to begin.

sillybilly

08-13-2009, 04:57 AM

YAY Turbo! Great idea. I was on the site where you can track Rodney on his journey and sad to see that there is only $209.00 in donations. I realized that this amount is only based on donations that have come through to ChildFind, but still.:confused: He definately does need more media coverage. So sad. I have only seen his first day covered by the media. More awareness, more $, more pride for Rodney. Thanx Turbo, you're a Dear! :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::woohoo:I'd help you in this area but I'm totally stumped as to where to begin.

NOooo CJ ... That $209.00 is only what has been donated by Eye-zOn from the sale of their GPS tracker units (10% from the sale of each $249.00 unit is being donated to KfK). Last I heard, RS has already raised $15,000 for Child Find Ontario through KfK ... and that was at least 3 or 4 days ago.

sillybilly

08-13-2009, 05:41 AM

Rodney's interview with a North Bay reporter, Weds, August 12. There are 4 video clips.

http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=32802

I feel the reporter's last question to Rodney was exceptionally insensitive, and it was obviously very emotional for him to respond.

sillybilly

08-13-2009, 05:48 AM

Pic and a bit of info re the fellows from Eye-zOn who outfitted Rodney with the GPS tracker and accompanying website:

http://www.allistonherald.com/allistonherald/article/142802

THANX EYE-ZON

nobodyzgirl

08-13-2009, 08:20 AM

Rodney's interview with a North Bay reporter, Weds, August 12. There are 4 video clips.

http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=32802

I feel the reporter's last question to Rodney was exceptionally insensitive, and it was obviously very emotional for him to respond.

Thanks for the link. I completely agree the last question was insensitive!

Prayers and wishes are with you Rodney on your incredible journey!

flipflop

08-13-2009, 09:36 AM

August 5, 2009 - Rodney leaves family, friends and media behind in order to start his journey in little Tori's honour. Good luck, Rodney!

August 6, 2009 - Rodney bikes 128 KM today!

August 8, 2009 - Purple is everywhere!

Also some folks have asked what cities he plans to go through on the trip. Here they are. I hope people can come out and show their support.

Sudbury

Sault Ste. Marie

Kenora

Winnepeg

Brandon

Regina

Saskatoon

Edmonton

Jasper

Does anyone have connections in these cities? I wonder if us Sleuthers called ahead and made local media and radio/tv more aware that he is on the way....just an idea of how we could help out.

Will send out emails to the 3 online news sites here (as I did when Tori first went missing). I will also post it on my Facebook for my local friends. Wishing I had done it sooner because I grew up in and near North Bay.

flipflop

08-13-2009, 01:49 PM

I'm in the Soo, and will send out emails to the 3 online news sites here (as I did when Tori first went missing). I will also post it on my Facebook for my local friends. Wishing I had done it sooner because I grew up in and near North Bay.

I was checking out ChildFind ontario website, they have Rodney/Tori on it. I then checked Child Find Alberta site, they did not have him on it. I emailed them. Have not heard back yet.

Alison

08-13-2009, 02:16 PM

Does anyone have connections in these cities? I wonder if us Sleuthers called ahead and made local media and radio/tv more aware that he is on the way....just an idea of how we could help out.

I am in Sudbury, I figure he will be here tomorrow since he was in Northbay last night. We are 120+ K away so it should take him little over a day. I will go email local news stations right now.

CarrieBean

08-13-2009, 03:03 PM

Will send out emails to the 3 online news sites here (as I did when Tori first went missing). I will also post it on my Facebook for my local friends. Wishing I had done it sooner because I grew up in and near North Bay.

Done!

Why not bombard them with emails?

news@sootoday.com

info@soonews.ca

You can send a note to the Sault Star here:

http://www.saultstar.com/feedback1/default.aspx?e5=an_newspaperemail

sillybilly

08-13-2009, 03:33 PM

I was checking out ChildFind ontario website, they have Rodney/Tori on it. I then checked Child Find Alberta site, they did not have him on it. I emailed them. Have not heard back yet.

Would you happen to have a link to that flip? I was on CF Ontario last nite and couldn't find a thing.

I am disappointed that CF Canada and CF provincial offices don't seem to have anything about KfK on their pages. They all have the same objectives regarding children, and I think they should be rallying around any of their partners or those who are doing great deeds in the name of children everywhere.

CarrieBean

08-13-2009, 03:37 PM

Would you happen to have a link to that flip? I was on CF Ontario last nite and couldn't find a thing.

I am disappointed that CF Canada and CF provincial offices don't seem to have anything about KfK on their pages. They all have the same objectives regarding children, and I think they should be rallying around any of their partners or those who are doing great deeds in the name of children everywhere.

I wish we knew someone in Jasper...this guy deserves a HUGE welcome when he arrives at his final destination! Anyone have connections?

Carriebean...I sent an email to the above addresses, I did get a response back from the first one. They asked for more info on when he would arrive and a contact to get in touch with Rodney, I directed her to the Eye-zON link and told them to leave him a message about getting in contact with him

flipflop

08-13-2009, 03:40 PM

ChildFind Alberta email
childfindalberta@storehouse39.ca

website
http://www.childfind.ab.ca/

ChildFind Manitoba
http://www.childfind.mb.ca/app/en/

1-800-532-9135

ChildFind Saskatchewan
childsask@aol.com

Lets help Rodney out by contacting these email accounts at ChildFind Offices across his route.

Yes I agree, I could not believe that other than the Ontario website, no one else has the story on their page. With him travelling through these provinces to raise money for their charity!!!! I am disappointed as well!

WOW, just checked his is almost to Sudbury! GO RODNEY!

CarrieBean

08-13-2009, 04:46 PM

I wish we knew someone in Jasper...this guy deserves a HUGE welcome when he arrives at his final destination! Anyone have connections?

Carriebean...I sent an email to the above addresses, I did get a response back from the first one. They asked for more info on when he would arrive and a contact to get in touch with Rodney, I directed her to the Eye-zON link and told them to leave him a message about getting in contact with him

I had already sent the links to child find and Eye-zON. Maybe they read your email first. Was the email from Helwig? I would think Sootoday would know about it since Baytoday had an article on their site.

CarrieBean

08-13-2009, 04:47 PM

Does Child Find Ontario receive all donations? Maybe this is why it's not on the other Provinces sites?

flipflop

08-13-2009, 05:28 PM

I had already sent the links to child find and Eye-zON. Maybe they read your email first. Was the email from Helwig? I would think Sootoday would know about it since Baytoday had an article on their site.

My response back was from Angela@soonews

flipflop

08-13-2009, 05:34 PM

Does Child Find Ontario receive all donations? Maybe this is why it's not on the other Provinces sites?

You are correct...checks can be mailed to Child Find Ontario....

Turbododger

08-13-2009, 10:23 PM

Leaving North Bay

Leaving North Bay this morning. Great day yesterday – raised over $830 in donations at Northgate Central Mall. Thanks to Katherine from the mall for helping us out, and to the Holiday Inn Express North Bay for taking such good care of us with a nice place to stay.

Saw a family of bears! One came pretty close to the car. Very cool.

Heading up Hwy 17 to Sudbury today. If anyone in the towns along the way wants to track us and come out to make a donation, Pete from EYE-ZON is following me in the van, and he’ll gladly stop to accept Child Find donations. I wish I could stop and talk to everyone, but when I’m on the bike, we have a daily goal, and it’s ambitious, so I kind of need to concentrate and keep the pedals moving. I really appreciate everyone coming out to wish me well, though.

It is amazing to see a such a heinous crime, and the loss of a precious child turn into something that can benefit everyone. Rodney, I feel, deserves any and all support he can get.

Leaving North Bay

Leaving North Bay this morning. Great day yesterday – raised over $830 in donations at Northgate Central Mall. Thanks to Katherine from the mall for helping us out, and to the Holiday Inn Express North Bay for taking such good care of us with a nice place to stay.

Saw a family of bears! One came pretty close to the car. Very cool.

Heading up Hwy 17 to Sudbury today. If anyone in the towns along the way wants to track us and come out to make a donation, Pete from EYE-ZON is following me in the van, and he’ll gladly stop to accept Child Find donations. I wish I could stop and talk to everyone, but when I’m on the bike, we have a daily goal, and it’s ambitious, so I kind of need to concentrate and keep the pedals moving. I really appreciate everyone coming out to wish me well, though.

Loved waking up this morning and Rodney was one of the top news stories on the radio, WTG Rodney hope your journey is successful in your plight and that it brings some of the closure you need and deserve. My heart is with you along the way.

I hope a ton of people contribute or just take the time to support him along the way. In addition i hope many participate in Rebecca's auction at the final destination. God bless...

They do post donation info in subsequent articles, I'll post one below. My heart just about breaks reading some things this man writes, I really hope this journey provides him with everything he is looking for, even if it is just solace from the media I think the trial will just about kill him :(...

"It's tiring, but I know the cause," Stafford said, describing what it's like to cycle and meet so many people.

There's still a lot of sympathy and condolences, but it's like people know, they've come to understand to not bring up Victoria anymore," he said, with repeated conversations over details of her death being more of a burden."

http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1696824

http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1700400

CarrieBean

08-14-2009, 01:35 PM

A Sault Star reporter emailed me saying he will be working on the weekend, and asked me to let him know when Rodney is expected to arrive in the Sault. Hopefully this means he will be covered online as well as in the local newspaper.

Hopefully Sootoday and Soonews will pick it up also. I sent one email addressed to both of them and doubt that was appreciated, lol, since they're rivals. I also expressed some displeasure a while back with Sootoday about them not wanting to add a missing Tori article/poster to their site, so if others could send an email to news@sootoday.com it may help.

Soonews is usually pretty good for covering issues when asked.

flipflop

08-14-2009, 02:48 PM

hi everyone in Sudbury! Just an update that Rodney has arrived and will be at the Wal_Mart this afternoon along with Child Find Ontario who will be on hand to do some fingerprinting for kids! Many thanks to EVERYONE who is supporting this venture--you are ALL making a difference! Keep up the great work! terry and john at CFO head office!!

This was on the messages on Kilometres for Kids today around noon!

sillybilly

08-14-2009, 04:15 PM

Posted to Rodney's Eye-zOn Encouragement Messages this morning:

2009-08-14 15:11:43

"hey dad i hope you get this you are doing great i wish i went with you so much ok well i miss you and remember you can do this ill be by your side all the way i miss you and when you get back we have to have a party i havent left woodstock yet im still on frances i miss you again message me on msn or call me plz ok bye dad love Daryn"

flipflop

08-14-2009, 04:26 PM

Posted to Rodney's Eye-zOn Encouragement Messages this morning:

2009-08-14 15:11:43

"hey dad i hope you get this you are doing great i wish i went with you so much ok well i miss you and remember you can do this ill be by your side all the way i miss you and when you get back we have to have a party i havent left woodstock yet im still on frances i miss you again message me on msn or call me plz ok bye dad love Daryn"

Awwww, brought tears to my eyes. This would have been an awesome experience for Daryn, and a great bonding time with his dad. Too bad he couldn't have gone along!

dilbert

08-15-2009, 01:32 AM

Awwww, brought tears to my eyes. This would have been an awesome experience for Daryn, and a great bonding time with his dad. Too bad he couldn't have gone along!

i agree, but according to tara...the police liason, the family dr. and the counsellor all stated that daryn would be better off at home. :rolleyes:

i feel so bad for him and for rodney.

crystalsleuth

08-15-2009, 06:10 PM

i agree, but according to tara...the police liason, the family dr. and the counsellor all stated that daryn would be better off at home. :rolleyes:

2009-08-15 22:35:11 hi dad its me again checking out your progress everyday i cant believe how far you are please message me back i love you so much i hope your having a good time take lots of pictures... love you pops bye... Daryn

CarrieBean

08-17-2009, 11:33 AM

http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1703297

CarrieBean

08-17-2009, 12:31 PM

http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1703297

ETA: I just went up to Walmart hoping to get some pics but Rodney was off doing an interview. Couldn't wait around, but hopefully he will still be there this evening. Will try again later.

We got back a bit late. Stuck on the International bridge :( . I doubt he is still at Walmart. Was really hoping to get to talk to him to express my condolences and my gratitude for what he is doing for our children in Ontario.

Thanks to Sault Star reporters Brian Kelly and Rachele Labrecque, as well as Lucas Punkari and the rest of the wonderful team at Soonews. :blowkiss:

Left North Bay on Thursday. Lots of folks came out to see us on the way out and we stopped to pick up donations along the way. Really great people in North Bay.

Arrived in Sudbury, and there was media waiting for us just outside the city limits for interviews – Sudbury Star, CBC Radio (English and French), and Channel 10, the local Sudbury TV station. We spent two days fundraising, and we worked alongside the local Child Find folks fingerprinting kids at the Walmart. That was really great. Special thanks to Vicki and Sharon from Child Find, Pierre the Assistant Manager at Walmart Sudbury, Homewood Suites, and the people of Sudbury for their generosity.

First of all, there’s a pretty long list of people to thank from Sault Ste. Marie –

Top of the list, Ron and Sarah at Walmart...

Frank @ the Sault Star

Stella @ CTV

Lucas @ the soo news.com

Rachel @ the Sault Star

Donna Hopper @ the soo today.com

Kimberly Kerwick, Massage Therapist – Needed that. Many thanks.

Craig @ Q104 FM

Left Bruce Mines this morning for the ‘short’ 60 km ride to the Soo. Last night we saw some bears, deer and blue herons in the Bruce Mines area.

Fundraising all day at the Walmart. Thank you to the people of the Soo for your generosity and hospitality.

The bike needs tires and an oiling, plus the brakes are getting a little tight, so it’s in the shop at the moment, ready Tuesday. We’ll start the trek towards Wawa on Tuesday afternoon. May be sleeping in the van, we’ll see how it goes. Aiming to get to Wawa late on Thursday.

Left Sault Ste. Marie this afternoon, headed for Wawa. Long hike, and we couldn’t pull it off before darkness fell, so we’re spending the night in Pancake Bay. The Soo...Wawa...Pancake Bay... I love Ontario.

Nipigon
Left Marathon this am and had to be in Nipigon today so we could meet our obligations in Thunder Bay on Sun/Mon.

Very long scenic ride throughout the mountains...crazy hills....started out in the rain and rode for about 5 hours before the weather got the best of me and I was starting to feel ill.

We made the decision to do a few miles in the van and firmed up our plans for the rest of the trip throughout Ontario. Too many plans in Thunder Bay, so we couldn’t wait for the weather to break and risk losing a day.

I know I always thank people in each town as we progress on our journey.....today is no different.

We pulled into Nipigon and ordered some lunch....My wallet dropped put of my pocket....4 hours later it was returned to the KFC..intact and all the money still there...again...Canada ROCKS...thank-you whoever you are......

Leaving early for Thunder Bay....looking forward to seeing the hills behind......love you Daryn…Dad

I just read Rodneys blog, he mentioned that he dropped his wallet somewhere along the way. Someone turned it in to a KFC and was returned to him with everything in tact. WOW, kudos to whoever found it! Someone is watching out for him!

nobodyzgirl

08-24-2009, 03:25 PM

I just read Rodneys blog, he mentioned that he dropped his wallet somewhere along the way. Someone turned it in to a KFC and was returned to him with everything in tact. WOW, kudos to whoever found it! Someone is watching out for him!

It's nice to know that there are still good people out in the world! I think the "someone" that is watching out for him, is his sweet daughter, Victoria, I'm sure she's with him every step of his hard journey, pushing him on.

Turbododger

08-24-2009, 03:33 PM

It's nice to know that there are still good people out in the world! I think the "someone" that is watching out for him, is his sweet daughter, Victoria, I'm sure she's with him every step of his hard journey, pushing him on.

I think you are right, Nobody.

Worth saying again, thank goodness there are still good people out there in the world!

We’re on our way, out of Pancake Bay! (Hey, I’m a poet, and I didn’t even know it...!)

Today was the hardest yet, pedaling through the hills up here. There’s some serious climbs, and long. Saw some bears along the way.

Met up with a group of police from Montreal who are also running an event in support of Child Find (Enfant Retour), riding Vancouver to Montreal – impressive. Even more impressive was the way these guys are outfitted. They look like a Tour de France team – matching shirts, a cube van filled with spare parts and bikes, two follow vans and a police escort. And food! They could have fed an army! Awesome

We pulled into Nipigon and ordered some lunch....My wallet dropped put of my pocket....4 hours later it was returned to the KFC..intact and all the money still there...again...Canada ROCKS...thank-you whoever you are......

Paid respects to Terry Fox at his memorial along the hiway...very emotional time as I feel the weight of the legacy of a real Canadian hero. I will carry a little bit of Terry in my thoughts the rest of this journey

So glad to see Rodney and his team got to spend a bit of time in Pancake...soooo beautiful there.

I won't retract my statement about Sootoday, but I was glad to see they did post an article on Rodney's trek...even if it was afterward.

Good luck with your travels through Manitoba, Rodney!

I hope he and Child Find get tons of recognition for their cause, everywhere they go.

Turbododger

08-27-2009, 06:13 PM

http://www.thesuburbannews.ca/content/en/2122

Late last Saturday afternoon, an SPVM motorcycle escort led by Police Chief Yvan Delorme preceded 25 SPVM cops as they wheeled their way down Ste. Catherine Street towards the city’s new plaza at the corner of Jeanne Mance in the downtown core.

“After riding 5,000 kilometers through the Rockies, through the Plains, through bad weather and heavy winds,” said SPVM Planning director Jean-Guy Gagnon, “it’s good to be home.”

Two weeks ago, with the Pacific Ocean’s wind at their back, three teams of SPVM cops used their summer holiday time to bike across the country so they could raise some money for Quebec’s missing children’s network, known locally as Enfant Retour. As of this weekend, with thousands of miles under their wheels, the SPVM’s cross-country ride already raised $80,000 and police officials said more checques are on the way.

“If we can save just one child, it’s because of people like you,” she said. “and please remember it’s people like you who can make the difference between a family’s normal life and a parent’s endless nightmare.”

Local police forces across the country offered help and hospitality while the riders made their way across the country. Sergeant Ouellette said another 25 volunteers helped to pull the trip together as massage therapists, a doctor, a couple of bike mechanics and some of the riders’ wives all helped to keep the teams fed, fit and ready for the next day’s ride.

Commander Gagnon said all the riders, including triple Olympic medalist Isabelle Charest and her husband, former Alouette defensive linebacker Steve Charbonneau, did everything on their own time.

Turbododger

08-27-2009, 06:17 PM

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/Pictures/64067_633867289415585421.jpg

Victoria Stafford’s favourite colour was purple.

Her father, Rodney, never noticed how prevalent it was. Now, months after his eight-year-old daughter was abducted and killed, the Woodstock, Ont. native sees it everywhere he travels.

Stafford, in the midst of a Woodstock-to-Edmonton bicycle ride to raise awareness of missing and abducted children, was exhausted a few nights ago and stopped at a forgettable hotel in the middle of nowhere.

Stepping into the bathroom, he saw three towels, two white and one purple.

"Why couldn’t it have been blue, white or green, you know? Why purple?" Stafford asked.

He realizes it likely just adds up to a series of coincidences, but it’s just that type of logic that’s running through his thoughts these days.

Still grieving, her father said no family deserves to be put through an experience like that again.

"It’s been an emotional roller coaster from hell," he said, during a day-long stop in Thunder Bay on Monday. "You have your highs and your lows, and the majority of it is lows, but you’ve got to keep the right frame of mind and keep going.

"I want to prevent other families from having to go through what myself and my family, my ex-wife and her family have had to go through and hopefully with funding and stuff like that, they can come up with the technology needed to bring other children home."

Members of the Winnipeg Police Service "Cops for Kids" bicycle relay team, bicycle patrol unit and traffic officers will ride with Rodney Stafford. They’ll leave Westmount Drive and Patterson Street at 10:30 a.m., then ride to The Forks.

The Forks is a very central, very busy area here so he's sure to get a lot of support. IDK if I will be able to make it, but I'll definitely think about going down there.

nobodyzgirl

09-01-2009, 10:16 AM

Had to drive to St.Anne because of 100km/hr speed limit on TransCanada. Authorities felt it too dangerous to ride on.

Permit for the ride through the province got mixed up a little, but getting it fixed.

Spent the night with Sophie & Paul. Met with Sandra and Christy from CF Manitoba. Raised awareness and funds at Vicky’s Drive In.

Special thanks to Lorette and his daughter from Blooms n' Balloons, Sophie & Paul, Randy and Kim (volunteers from Child Find Manitoba) and Vicky’s Drive In.

So far, Manitoba is looking like it’s going to live up to our experience through northern Ontario. Pretty proud to be Canadian about now.

Winnipeg
Rode into Winnipeg today to Inn at the Forks, accompanied by Winnipeg Police Cyclists, Motorbikes and Cruisers, as well as MP Shelley Glover.

Huge media scrum when I arrived - haven’t seen that many since Tori first disappeared. Met a load of people at The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, thanks to all of you for doing what you’re doing!

Helps me remember that I am not alone in this whole thing, and there’s a world full of kids that need our protection.

Christy & Sandra – thanks for taking us to Dinner, delicious at Red Lobster. Off to City T.V. first thing tomorrow!

Winnipeg’s great!

flipflop

09-02-2009, 04:34 PM

Rodneys blogs and messages make me tear up every time I read them. He certainly has alot of support behind him. This guy deserves a medal for what he is doing. Do any locals know if he could be nominated for citizen of the year, or anything along that line.

nobodyzgirl

09-03-2009, 10:31 AM

Rodneys blogs and messages make me tear up every time I read them. He certainly has alot of support behind him. This guy deserves a medal for what he is doing. Do any locals know if he could be nominated for citizen of the year, or anything along that line.

I have the same response as you flipflop whenever I read the messages and his blog, it always brings a tear to my eye. I do think it's great that as RS gets closer each day to his goal, there is more media attention and more donations for a great cause. If they have a citizen of the year award, he definitely deserves it. I can only imagine how hard this must for him, during his time of grief.

jaycee

09-05-2009, 10:11 PM

I have the same response as you flipflop whenever I read the messages and his blog, it always brings a tear to my eye. I do think it's great that as RS gets closer each day to his goal, there is more media attention and more donations for a great cause. If they have a citizen of the year award, he definitely deserves it. I can only imagine how hard this must for him, during his time of grief.I think this is he way of dealing with his grief and what keeps him going. It must be hard, imagine the hills. I'm glad he is on the prairies now. That should make the biking easier.

He does deserve a special award but I don't think he would want one.

Turbododger

09-09-2009, 05:06 PM

Rodney Stafford wants people to open their eyes to the potential dangers lurking out there.

“I want people to know that no matter where you live, whether it be a big city, a small town, a little community, it can happen anywhere, at any time,” said Stafford. “These people find out ways to make it happen and children are disappearing everywhere. We have to try put some kind of stop to it.”

He admitted there are times when the grief and pain are too overwhelming and during his trek, he’s had his moments.

Stafford has such a moment while he was biking near Kenora.
“Right on the rock wall, someone spray painted their nickname “Chubbs.” That was what we called my daughter,” he said. “I was biking along and I just happened to look up and I seen it and it was — instant. I had to pull over and take a break.”

He set his bike down and ran until he found a spot where he could release his emotions.

“I sat down and cried for like 10 minutes,” said Stafford. “It just hit me so hard, just seeing that name.”

Stafford is biking from his hometown of Woodstock, Ont., to Edmonton. Tuesday marked his 34th day on the road and about a week left of his tour. So far, the father has raised about $22,000 for Child FInd

Wednesday, he'll tackle the stretch of of Highway 11 between Regina and Davidson, north of Moose Jaw. He says the crowds that have greeted him along the way have given him the support he needs to make it to Edmonton.

"The further I go, the bigger it gets and I'm very glad to see that because people are obviously paying attention to what I'm doing and I'm spreading the word."

Stafford says each morning he wakes up and stares at a picture of Tori and that is his motivation for the day.

Lloydminster
Woke this morning to go to City Hall to meet the Mayor of North Battleford, only to find that because of a small storm rolling through we had to move it over to the public school, where there was a very large group, ok, the whole school sitting in the gym. A few of us made little speeches to the children about safety, and the importance of what I am doing. I shook the hand of every child who walked through the door on the way out, and gave them each a Child Find bracelet.

Left North Battleford, and here I am, in Lloydminster ALBERTA!!!! Tears are rolling knowing that I am merely days away from accomplishing what I set out to do. I'll be on the mountain with my baby in FIVE days!!!

Love you Tori, and daddy will see you soon babygirl!! :) Love you Daryn, was nice talking with you again today. See you in EIGHT days buddy! I miss you soooooooooooo much!!

Took a photo here today which really touched my heart. I will send it as soon as possible and I want every parent out there to please look closely. The whole monument made me remember what I felt when Victoria was gone. I was not alone, and anyone out there who has a child missing, please know that you are not alone either. God Bless you all, and never give up!!

Special Monument
This is the monument I was talking about in my last blog.

The whole monument made me remember what I felt when Victoria was gone. I was not alone, and anyone out there who has a child missing, please know that you are not alone either. God Bless you all, and never give up!!

UGGG, I can't figure how how to attach the picture, and here I thought I was actually a little computer savvy! LOL

Guelphite

09-16-2009, 11:30 AM

I admire this man so much for what he's doing to help others ...

BBM

It was an emotional reunion Sunday for Rebecca (Stafford) Nichols and her brother, Rodney Stafford.

Five days before his arrival in Edmonton -- the last stop on his cross-county Kilometres for Kids bicycle trip in memory of his slain daughter Victoria (Tori) Stafford --Nichols and her new husband, Nathan Nichols, drove three and a half hours to surprise and offer support to Stafford in North Battleford.

Stafford was attending a fundraising function hosted by local First Nations groups, one of several stops on his 3,453-kilometre journey.

Organized as a tribute to his daughter, the trip is geared to raise money for Child Find Ontario, a non-profit organization dedicated to reuniting abducted children with their families.

Good for Rodney! I am so proud of this man for sticking to his guns and doing what he set out to do. Perhaps his journey has given him time to heal. I am sure Darryn can't wait to see his dad.

Turbododger

10-05-2009, 11:13 PM

The Executive Director of Child Find Ontario said an awakening has occurred in Oxford County and across Canada following the disappearance and death of eight-year-old Victoria Stafford.

This tragedy has affected everyone really. In terms of what transpired with Victoria missing and then found tragically. This has hit a sore nerve in many people," Child Find's John Lattimore Durant said.

Representatives from Child Find attended a fundraising dance for the organization Saturday at Ingersoll's CAW Hall. The hall was decorated in purple, Victoria's favourite colour and pictures of other missing children lined the walls.

Lattimore Durant said calls to Child Find's main office in Mississauga increased tremendously during the search for Victoria following her disappearance April 8 and increased again when her death was confirmed July 21.

When Victoria was located we were getting a lot of inquires about our programs from the Guelph area, Woodstock, London, Brantford, everywhere really," he said. The issue of child safety really hit home."
Rodney Stafford's fundraising efforts with his bike ride from Woodstock to Edmonton, Alta. dubbed Kilometres for Kids helped to keep child safety on the forefront of everyone's mind, Latimore Durant said.

Money raised through events like Stafford's ride and through community events, like this dance, is used for many things including running identification programs and sending volunteers into schools and community centres to teach children about safety.

http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1973355

Since 1984, Child Find Ontario, a not-for-profit charitable organization, has participated in the search and prevention of missing children.
On the web:

THAT'S MY GIRL: Rodney Stafford holds up an altered photo depicting him and his late daughter Tori standing on a mountain near Jasper, Alberta. He was speaking at the annual general meeting of Muskoka Victim Services.

Dad tells of journey in memory of daughter
October 7, 2009 - by Brent Cooper
Rodney Stafford has been raising funds across the country for Child Find Canada in honour of Tori
All eyes in Partners Hall were on Rodney Stafford as he spoke... including those of his late daughter Victoria, better known to the world as Tori Stafford.

The eyes from the audience that watched Stafford talk about his stories were often wiped with tissues, while a poster showed the face of his smiling daughter, her eyes staring directly at her father as he stood the podium to talk about his little girl.

Stafford was in Huntsville as the guest speaker at the 11th annual general meeting of Muskoka Victim Services on Sept. 30. More than 50 people listened as he spoke about dealing with the loss of his precious daughter and told tales from his trip this summer across most of Canada to raise funds and awareness for Child Find Canada, a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to the search for, and prevention of, missing children.

.......

During his ride, there were two memorable stops for Stafford. One came in Alberta, where out in the middle of nowhere he met the father of a young girl who had also been abducted and murdered. The two men sat for a period and shared stories about their similar tales of woe. When they parted, each man had given the other a bracelet in memory of the other’s dead child.?The other occasion came during his ride through
Saskatchewan, when he was hosted by a rural family whose young son had also been abducted and assaulted. Fortunately the youth had escaped his abductor, who had been convicted eight previous times for similar incidents.?“A thing like this happens in small communities, it happens overseas, it happens anywhere. That family in Saskatchewan made a big imprint on my life, and I can honestly say I am really excited about going back out there next summer to introduce my son to my new family friends out there.” ?When he finally reached Edmonton, Stafford was then flown to Jasper where he released a balloon from the mountain Tori had stood on before, a place many now call Tori’s Mountain. He released a purple balloon from that spot in Tori’s honour.

To immortalize the moment, Stafford had a photo of his daughter on that same spot on the mountain altered to include an image of himself standing with her, his one arm around the little girl nicknamed Chubs.

He told the audience he believes the ride has raised more than $40,000 for Child Find. ?Stafford also said he is not done with Kilometres for Kids and that he has put some thought into doing the ride again next summer with Daryn and his girlfriend Whitney.

“Raising awareness that was created along this journey... knowing that that little girl is upstairs smiling at me saying, ‘Daddy you rock,’ makes me warm inside. Knowing the possibility that what I have done could actually possibly save a life…” he said, getting a bit emotional.

Anyone wanting to make a donation to Kilometres for Kids can do so at TD Canada Trust, Branch 227, account 521-0920, by cheque to Child Find, 440A Britannia Road East, Mississauga L4Z 1X9 or by credit card by calling 1-800-447-6047.

http://www.huntsvilleforester.com/article/146896

LadyL

08-09-2010, 12:01 AM

Rodney & Daryn just got back from their (Rodney's second) trip. They rode together on a tandem bike. Daryn cycled the last 20 km. into Woodstock on his own, leaving the seat behind him open for Tori.